Northern District of Mississippi

Prisoner Property

Prisoners in USMS custody may retain
the following types of
personal property while detained in a contract detention facility or a federal
institution:

1. Legal papers or
materials. These materials should be relevant to the
current or
draft court proceedings.

2. Religious
medals. One medal may be retained only if it is of a size and
weight
which poses no threat as a potential weapon or escape device.

3. Eye glasses or contact lenses, with case.

4. Prescribed medicine and health items. (Will be provided by the Bureau
of Prisons Medical Staff)

5. Up to fifty dollars in U.S. currency.
(Placed in commissary account by
family member / friends after defendant is processed into the federal/state and county facility).

6. Wedding
band. Rings with stones are not authorized. No rings other than
a plain
wedding band are permitted.

Court Clothing

1. One set of court clothing will be allowed.

Court clothes will be brought to the United
States Marshal Office, 2nd floor
of the United States Courthouse at least one hour prior to scheduled trial
proceedings. No civilian clothes area authorized for any other court procedures.
No metal tie clips or any other jewelry will be permitted.

2. Change of clothing is permitted on
every Tuesday and Thursday.

Family members or assigned
attorney is responsible to pickup all clothes after the trial. Excess Prisoner
Property will be disposed of in accordance with Marshal Service Policy.

Unallowable
Property

At the time of processing, any property
that is
unallowable will be taken away from the prisoner. Unallowed property taken from
a
prisoner that is illegal or could be dangerous will be documented and reported
to the U.S.
Marshal (USM). Unallowable prisoner property should be given to arresting agents
for
disposal.

Excess Prisoner
Personal Property

Prisoner
Property Disposal: If unallowable prisoner property
cannot be given to the arresting agent or the agent refuses to take the
property, any of the following methods will be used to dispose of it:

a. Mail by certified mail or transfer, with a written receipt to next of
kin, the prisoner’s attorney, or another individual designated by the prisoner.

b. Mail by certified mail or transfer the property to a storage company to
be stored at the prisoner’s expense. Arrangements for storage of property
will be made by the prisoner or his or her attorney directly with a storage
company.

c. Obtain written authorization from the prisoner to donate the property
to a charitable organization of the USM's choice or destroy the property (throw
it away). If the prisoner does not authorize the donation of property, it will
be
considered abandoned after 30 days and will be destroyed or donated by the USM.

d. Prisoners will complete mailing labels for property that they desire to
have mailed at the time of processing. The property should be placed in suitable
mailing containers, provided by the USMS, and sealed by the prisoner.